Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with maize plants during hydric deficit.

The objective of this study was to verify the physiological behavior and development of maize plants under hydric deficit inoculated with the AMF Rhizophagus clarus and Claroideoglomus etunicatum and the commercial inoculant ROOTELLA BR in nonsterilized soil as a strategy to mitigate the effects of drought in the crop. Corn seeds were grown and inoculated with R. clarus, C. etunicatum and the commercial inoculant ROOTELLA BR separately at sowing. The plants were grown in a greenhouse and submitted to water deficit in stage V3, keeping the pots at 20% field capacity for 10 days. The first analyses were performed, followed by reirrigation for 2 days, and the analyses were performed again. The experiment was a double factorial, with 2 water treatments (irrigated and water deficit) × 4 inoculation treatments (control, ROOTELLA BR, R. clarus, C. etunicatum) × 5 replicates per treatment, totaling 40 vessels. The results indicate that the plants were able to recover favorably according to the physiological data presented. It is noted that in inoculated plants, there was no damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. These data demonstrate that AMF contribute greatly to better plant recovery after a dry period and a new irrigation period. Inoculation with AMF favors postwater stress recovery in plants.

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus clarus improves physiological tolerance to drought stress in soybean plants.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an economically important crop, and is cultivated worldwide, although increasingly long periods of drought have reduced the productivity of this plant. Research has shown that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provides a potential alternative strategy for the mitigation of drought stress. In the present study, we measured the physiological and morphological performance of two soybean cultivars in symbiosis with Rhizophagus clarus that were subjected to drought stress (DS). The soybean cultivars Anta82 and Desafio were grown in pots inoculated with R. clarus. Drought stress was imposed at the V3 development stage and maintained for 7 days. A control group, with well-irrigated plants and no AMF, was established simultaneously in the greenhouse. The mycorrhizal colonization rate, and the physiological, morphological, and nutritional traits of the plants were recorded at days 3 and 7 after drought stress conditions were implemented. The Anta82 cultivar presented the highest percentage of AMF colonization, and N and K in the leaves, whereas the DS group of the Desafio cultivar had the highest water potential and water use efficiency, and the DS + AMF group had thermal dissipation that permitted higher values of Fv/Fm, A, and plant height. The results of the principal components analysis demonstrated that both cultivars inoculated with AMF performed similarly under DS to the well-watered plants. These findings indicate that AMF permitted the plant to reduce the impairment of growth and physiological traits caused by drought conditions.

Effect of Rhizobacteria Inoculation via Soil and Seeds on Glycine max L. Plants Grown on Soils with Different Cropping History.

Field experiments testing the effect of phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacteria (PSRB) should consider the cropping history and the method used to inoculate the strains. We evaluated the hypothesis that PSRB previously isolated from soybean seedlings could be effective in promoting growth in this oilseed crop in soils with different cultivation periods. We also evaluated whether this growth promotion could be influenced by cultivation histories or the inoculation method (via seeds or soil). Thus, we conducted an experiment in five fields cultivating Glycine max during two seasons (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), to test the effectiveness of PSRB (SAF9-Brevibacillus sp., SAF11-Brevibacillus sp., and SAC36-Bacillus velezensis) compared with results observed for the inoculant BiomaPhos (mix of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium). The present study was based on the evaluation of vegetative growth, nutritional and yield parameters, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). PSRB were more effective than, or showed similar effectiveness to, BiomaPhos for most of the evaluated vegetative, nutritional, and yield characteristics. In the fields tested in the summer 2019/2020 crop, SAC36 and SAF9 strains stood out as growth promoters, whereas in the 2020/2021 crop, SAF11, SAC36, and BiomaPhos were notable. There did not seem to be a direct relationship between long histories of soybean cultivation as a monoculture and low yield in the field. However, yield seems to be associated with soil nutritional characters such as Ca, Mg, K, P, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter levels. PSRB inoculation positively affected nodulation (NN) and nodule dry mass (NDM) in the evaluated fields in the 2019/2020 crop, and the aerial part dry mass (APDM), NN, NDM, yield, and MBC of the evaluated fields in the 2020/2021 crop. In contrast, the inoculation method was observed to have a strong effect on APDM, NN, root dry mass, and MBC, as the plants inoculated via seed showed higher mean values than those in the plants inoculated via soil. This study demonstrated the growth-promoting potential of new phosphate-solubilizing strains, which may eventually be incorporated by the biostimulants market to freely compete with BiomaPhos.

Plant growth analysis describing the soybean plants response on dryland field to seed co-inoculation / Análise de crescimento de plantas descrevendo a resposta do cultivo de soja no campo à coinoculação de sementes

ABSTRACT: Plant growth analysis can be used for soybean plants evaluation to identify morphologic changes caused by soil microbes after seed inoculation. The objective was to measure changes of inoculated soybean plants grown under regular field Brazilian production conditions. The experiment was carried out to compare 5 inoculation treatments: T1 (Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. diazoefficiens), T2 (T1 and Azospirillum brasilense), T3 (T1 and Trichoderma asperellum), T4 (T1 and T. virens, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and T5 (T1 and Penicillum bilaiae). Leaf area, shoot and root dry matter were measured at vegetative and reproductive growth stages. Results of this study validate the contribution of plant growth analysis of soybeans plants for identifying their responses promoted by the combined inoculation of their seeds with selected microbes. Also, the microbial effects on plant growth vary not only between microbes but also between parts of the plants and through the plant development stages. The introduction of different microbes in soybean rhizosphere combined with Bradyrhizobium sp. strains can contribute to increase crop dry matter productivity during its growing cycle.

RESUMO: Análise de crescimento de plantas pode ser utilizada para avaliação de plantas e identificação de mudanças causadas por microrganismos de solo, depois de serem inoculados nas sementes. O objetivo deste estudo foi medir as mudanças no crescimento de plantas de soja inoculadas em condição de cultivos extensivos de campo no Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido para comparar cinco tratamentos inoculados: T1 (Bradyrhizobium japonicum e B. diazoefficiens), T2 (T1 e Azospirillum brasilense), T3 (T1 e Trichoderma asperellum), T4 (T1 and T. virens, e Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) e T5 (T1 e Penicillum bilaiae). A área foliar e a massa seca da parte aérea e de raízes foram medidas nos estádios vegetativos e reprodutivos. Os resultados validam a contribuição da análise de crescimento de plantas de soja para identificar as respostas causadas pela inoculação de sementes com combinação de microrganismos selecionados. Os efeitos dos microrganismos no crescimento das plantas não variam apenas entre os microrganismos, mas também entre as partes das plantas e ao longo do seu desenvolvimento. A introdução de diferentes micróbios na rizosfera de soja, combinados com cepas de Bradyrhizobium sp. pode aumentar a produtividade de massa seca das culturas durante o seu ciclo de crescimento.

Biocontrol Potential of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Physiological Changes in Soybean in Response to Butia archeri Palm Rhizobacteria.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic parasitic fungus that causes Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), which is currently one of the most difficult agronomic crop diseases to control. A number of plants of the Brazilian Cerrado biome have been shown to be important sources of symbiotic microorganisms with biotechnological potential, so we decided to test the potential of bacteria isolated from the dwarf jelly palm, Butia archeri (Arecaceae) for the control of the pathogenic effects provoked by S. sclerotiorum. For this, we bioprimed seeds and evaluated the effects of this biopriming on the OJIP transient patterns prior to and following infection by the phytopathogen. Plants treated with the BA48R strain of Enterobacter sp., and in particular, those treated with the BA88R strain of Bacillus cereus presented the best results in terms of the loss/gain of the physiological and symptomatological variables evaluated. The plants bioprimed with BA88R presented high post-infection levels of total chlorophyll (33.35 FCIs) and chlorophyll a (26.39 FCIs), maintained a high Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI = 18.87), and synthesized low concentrations of flavonoids (1.39). These plants also maintained high levels of PIABS (1.111) and PITOTAL (1.300) following infection, and low levels of Di0/RC (0.602), which indicates that, in the presence S. sclerotiorum, the efficiency of the photosynthesis in the plants treated with these bacteria was less affected in the reaction centers, as confirmed by the negative amplitude recorded in the L band. The present study reconfirms the importance of the use of chlorophyll fluorescence for the diagnosis of disease and conditions of stress in crop plants, in addition to demonstrating the effectivenesss of the BA48R bacterial strain and, in particular, the BA88R strain on systemic resistance induction and suppression of S. sclerotiorum in Glycine max plants, with enormous potential for the development of more sustainable agricultural processes.

Multifunctional potential of endophytic and rhizospheric microbial isolates associated with Butia purpurascens roots for promoting plant growth.

The functional diversity of endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms associated with the promotion of plant growth includes increased availability of plant nutrients, phytohormone synthesis and phytopathogen suppression. We used the hypothesis that the unknown root and rhizospheric community associated with the Butia purpurascens palm, an endemic species of the Cerrado, could be composed of microbiota with great functional diversity. Thus, the potential of the isolates of this community for four functional traits was evaluated: solubilization of calcium phosphate (CaHPO4) and iron phosphate (FePO4), synthesis of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and suppression of seed- and fruit-spoilage fungi of B. purpurascens. A total of 166 bacterial isolates, most belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria (94%), and 46 fungal isolates (Ascomycota) were tested. None of the isolates showed the four functional traits tested, but 72% presented two traits (CaHPO4 solubilization and IAA synthesis). Fifteen fungi (27% of the isolates) presented only the trace for IAA, whereas the capacity for antibiosis was observed in only eight bacteria. CaHPO4-solubilization capacity was evidenced by all bacterial isolates and by some fungal isolates. The functional trait for IAA production was present in all isolates, and production levels were significantly above 100 µg mL-1 for some bacteria. Isolates of the genus Bacillus efficiently suppressed the growth of spoilage fungi tested, with relative inhibition rates reaching levels higher than 60% when using Bacillus subtilis. These results attest to the multifunctionality of the endophytic and rhizospheric isolates of B. purpurascens for the promotion of plant growth. This is the first study that sought to identify the root endophytic and rhizospheric microbiota associated with the B. purpurascens palm for the bioprospection of species with functional traits related to the promotion of plant growth, thus opening the way for in vivo tests in plants of commercial or ecological interest.

Preinoculation of Soybean Seeds Treated with Agrichemicals up to 30 Days before Sowing: Technological Innovation for Large-Scale Agriculture.

The cultivation of soybean in Brazil experienced an expressive growth in the last decades. Soybean is highly demanding on nitrogen (N) that must come from fertilizers or from biological fixation. The N supply to the soybean crop in Brazil relies on the inoculation with elite strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. elkanii, and B. diazoefficiens, which are able to fulfill the crop's N requirements and enrich the soil for the following crop. The effectiveness of the association between N2-fixing bacteria and soybean plants depends on the efficacy of the inoculation process. Seed treatment with pesticides, especially fungicides or micronutrients, may rapidly kill the inoculated bacteria, affecting the establishment and outcome of the symbiosis. The development of technologies that allow inoculation to become a successful component of industrial seed treatment represents a valuable tool for the seed industry, as well as for the soybean crop worldwide. In this article, we report the results of new technologies, developed by the company Total Biotecnologia Indústria e Comércio S/A of Brazil, for preinoculation of soybean seeds with bradyrhizobia, in the presence of agrichemicals. Our results demonstrate improved bacterial survival for up to 30 days after inoculation, without compromising nodulation, N2-fixation, and yield in the field.

Harvest time on the content and chemical composition of essential oil from leaves of guava / Horário de coleta sobre o teor e a composição química do óleo essencial das folhas de goiabeira

ABSTRACT: The essential oil plants contents can be affected by several factors. For example, in certain plants, collection time has been observed to affect the content and chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the plant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of collection time on the content and chemical composition of the essential oil from guava ( Psidium guajava L.) leaves. Leaves were collected at different times of the day and the content and chemical composition of their essential oil was determined. Collection time did not qualitatively affect the chemical composition of the essential oil. However, concentration of certain substances in the oil, such as α-humulene and trans-caryophyllene, did significantly vary at different collection times. The main constituents of the essential oil of Psidium guajava are limonene (2.2-4.4%), trans-caryophyllene (18.1-17.1%), α-humulene (26.3-20.4%), aromadendrene (7.6-12.2%), α-selinene (7.3-11.3%), caryophyllene oxide (3.7-3.3%), humulene epoxide II (4.1-1.9%), and selin-11-en-4α-ol (7.2-11.1%). Leaves collected at 7:00 AM had higher essential oil production, with a content of 0.38% (d.b.), whereas leaves collected at 7:00 PM had lower essential oil production, 0.24% (d.b.). Chemical analysis showed that sesquiterpene compounds represented the highest concentration (62.0%), and monoterpenoids and monoterpenes represented the lowest concentrations (1.1 and 2.2%, respectively). Chemical classes that underwent major changes with respect to collection time were monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and sesquiterpenoids (2.2-4.4%, 63.8-61.7%, and 15.9-13.2%, respectively).

RESUMO: Existem fatores que podem afetar o conteúdo de óleo essencial das plantas, sendo o horário de coleta um deles. Assim, observa-se que o teor e a composição química de óleo essencial podem variar em certas plantas de acordo com horário de coleta. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do horário de coleta sobre o conteúdo e a composição química do óleo essencial das folhas de goiabeira ( Psidium guajava ). Folhas de Psidium guajava foram coletadas em diferentes horários do dia para determinar teor e composição química de seu óleo essencial. O óleo essencial não apresentou variação qualitativa da composição química em relação ao horário de coleta das folhas de Psidium guajava , mas alterou a concentração das substâncias, entre elas o α-humuleno e o trans-cariofileno. Os constituintes principais do óleo essencial das folhas de Psidium guajava são o limoneno (2,2-4,4%), trans-cariofileno (18,1-17,1%), α-humuleno (26,3-20,4%), aromadendreno (7,6-12,2%), α-selineno (7,3-11,3%), óxido de cariofileno (3,7-3,3%) epóxido de humuleno II (4,1-1,9%) e o selin-11-en-4α-ol (7,2-11,1%). No entanto, a maior produção de óleo essencial, foi obtida com as folhas coletadas às 19h, apresentando conteúdo de 0,38% (b.s.) e a mais baixa produção às 07h, apresentando conteúdo de 0,24% (b.s.). Através da análise química, identificou-se que compostos sesquiterpênicos apresentaram uma maior concentração (62,0%) e os monoterpenos e monoterpenoides foram os que apresentaram menor concentração (2,2 e 1,1%, respectivamente). As classes que sofreram maiores mudanças em relação ao horário de coleta foram os monoterpenos (2,2-4,4%) e os sesquiterpenos e os sesquiterpenoides (63,8-61,7% e 15,9-13,2%, respectivamente).

Solubilização de fosfato in vitro por microorganismos rizosféricos de Guandu / In vitro phosphate solubilization by rhizospheric microorganisms from pigeonpea

Diversos microrganismos do solo têm a capacidade de solubilizar diferentes formas de fosfatos inorgânicos, podendo contribuir para o aproveitamento de fontes menos solúveis. Seis meios de cultura sólidos foram testados para isolar microrganismos solubilizadores de fosfato (MSF). O isolamento foi feito a partir do rizoplano mais rizosfera de guandu utilizando a metodologia das diluições sucessivas e Número Mais Provável. Os critérios de seleção usados foram: número de MSF presentes, tempo de aparecimento de colônias e facilidade de distinção do halo transparente. Os meios GL (glicose e extrato de levedura) e GELP (glicose, extrato de levedura, peptona, extrato de solo e sais de base) favoreceram ao crescimento mais rápido e um maior número de MSF. Uma vez obtidos, 12 isolados de fungos e 37 de bactérias foram testados quanto à capacidade de solubilização de fosfato de Araxá em meio líquido. Estes isolados foram incubados, sob agitação, em meio líquido contendo 200 mg de fosfato de Araxá L-1, durante 7 dias a 28 ºC. No início e final do período de incubação foram determinados pH e P solúvel em meio líquido. Houve isolados que, apesar de solubilizar fosfato em meio sólido, não mantiveram esta capacidade em meio líquido. Para os que mantiveram a capacidade solubilizadora de fosfato em meio líquido, houve uma relação inversa entre pH do meio e teor de P solúvel. Os resultados sugerem que a etodologia de isolamento baseada na formação de halo em placa deve ser aliada à quantificação da solubilização de fosfato em meio líquido.

Several soil microorganisms can solubilize different inorganic P forms, contributing to the use of low reactive P sources. Six solid growth media were tested to isolate P-solubilizing microorganisms. Isolation was performed from rhizoplane plus rhizosphere of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.), using the method of successive dilutions and Most Probable Number. The criteria for choosing the most suitable solid media to isolate pigeonpea solubilizers were: number of colonies, time to colony appearing and distinction of the transparent halo. Growth media GL (glucose, yeast extract and agar) and GELP (glucose, yeast extract, peptone and agar) induced a faster colony development and a higher number of P-solubilizing microorganisms. Twelve fungi isolates and 37 bacteria were tested in relation to their ability to solubilize ?Araxá? phosphate in liquid medium. The isolates were cultivated for 7 days at 28 ºC in liquid medium on a rotary shaker. 200 mg of ?Araxá? phosphate L-1 was added to the liquid medium. pH and soluble P were determined at initial and final of the incubation time. Some isolates solubilized phosphate in solid medium but not in liquid medium. For the isolates that maintained the solubilization ability in liquid medium, an inverse relationship between pH and soluble P was verified. The results suggest that the isolation method, based on the halo formation in Petri dishes should be combined with quantification of soluble phosphate in liquid media.

Solubilização de fosfato por microrganismos rizosféricos de genótipos de Guandu cultivados em diferentes classes de solo / Phosphate solubilization by microorganisms from the rhizosphere of Pigeonpea genotypes grown in different soil classes

Microrganismos solubilizadores de fosfato foram isolados da rizosfera de seis genótipos de guandu (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) cultivados em vasos contendo solo pertencente a seis diferentes classes: Luvissolo, Cambissolo, Cambissolo Eutrófico, Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo, Neossolo Regolítico, Vertissolo, todos da região nordeste brasileira. Fungos foram obtidos em maior número (85) que bactérias (46). Um maior número (11) de fungos foi proveniente do Cambissolo Eutrófico cultivado com o genótipo D1-Type; um total de 24 isolados de bactéria foi proveniente do Neossolo Regolítico cultivado com os genótipos Moreilândia (14) e D1-Type (10), isolando-se um número bem menor (2) nos demais solos. A solubilização de fosfato de Araxá por 131 isolados foi quantificada em meio líquido contendo 2000 mg L- 1 de meio líquido. A maioria dos fungos baixou o pH do meio de 6,5 para valores entre 2,0 e 4,0, enquanto que, para as bactérias, a variação foi de 4,0 e 6,5. As médias de P solubilizado foram de 122 e 15 mg L-1 para os fungos e bactérias, respectivamente. Identificaram-se 15 isolados (14 sendo Aspergillus e 1 Penicillium) com maior habilidade em solubilizar P. O teor de P solubilizado e o número de isolados solubilizadores dependeram do tipo de solo e do genótipo de guandu. Estudos mais detalhados são necessários para melhor elucidar essas interações.

P-solubilizing microorganisms were isolated from the rhizosphere of six genotypes of pigeonpea (Cajanuscajan L. Millsp.) grown in pots containing soil from six classes: "Luvissolo", "Cambissolo", "Cambissolo Eutrófico", "Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo", "Neossolo Regolítico" and "Vertissolo". All soils came fromthe Northeast region of Brazil. Eighty-five isolates were fungi and 46 bacteria. Eleven fungal isolatescame from "Cambisssolo Eutrófico" cultivated with the genotype D1-Type; fourteen and ten isolates ofbacteria came from "Neossolo Regolítico" cultivated with genotype Moreilândia and D1-Type,respectively. For the other soil classes, the number of bacteria was much lower (2 isolates). In vitrophosphate solubilization by 131 microorganisms was performed after incubation in liquid medium containing 2000 mg L-1 of "Araxá" apatite. The majority of fungal isolates decreased the pH to the rangefrom 2.0 to 4.0 and bacteria from 4.0 to 6.5. Soluble P averaged 122 and 15 mg P L-1 for fungi and bacteria,respectively. Fifteen fungi isolates (14 Aspergillus and 1 Penicillium) more able in solubilizing P in liquid medium were chosen for identification. The amount of solubilized P and the number of P-solubilizing isolates depended on the soil type and pigeonpea genotype. Further studies should be performed to elucidate these interactions